United States · United States Congress · 21 February 1991
Safe and Competitive Trucking Act of 1991 - Amends Federal law to prohibit States from regulating any of the following: (1) intrastate rates, routes, or services of any interstate motor carrier, interstate motor private carrier, or interstate broker which provides intrastate transportation of property, including express packages; or (2) the leasing, rental, or other sourcing of commercial drivers and motor vehicles by interstate motor carriers of property operating in intrastate commerce. Prohibits States from requiring interstate motor carriers, interstate motor private carriers, or interstate brokers of property to prove the lawfulness of interstate transportation activities performed under this Act or regulations issued by the Interstate Commerce Commission. Prohibits States from requiring such carrier or broker to: (1) file and maintain any certificate or permit issued by the Commission; (2) register motor vehicles operated under a certificate or permit issued by such Commission; (3) display on any vehicle a decal, stamp, cab card, or other identification evidencing the lawfulness of such transportation activity; or (4) pay a fee or tax with respect to such activities. Authorizes States to assess a tax or fee on motor carriers operating vehicles registered in another State only if: (1) the tax or fee is apportioned based on miles driven in the State or on some other equitable measure of such carrier's or vehicle's contact with such State; (2) the tax or fee does not discriminate against interstate commerce; (3) the tax or fee is related to the services provided to the carrier or vehicle; and (4) the activity with respect to which the tax or fee is being assessed has a substantial nexus with the State. Authorizes a State to require an interstate motor carrier to register vehicles the carrier intends to operate within the State and collect a registration tax or fee. Authorizes States to require interstate motor carriers to report the fuel used by its vehicles within such State and to pay a related tax or fee. Prohibits any State from requiring registration or fuel use reports or imposing related taxes or fees on or after September 30, 1994 and 1995, respectively, unless it is a member of the International Registration Plan or the International Fuel Tax Agreement. Prohibits a State or local government from assessing a tax or fee after September 30, 1994, on a motor carrier if the carrier's only business activity within the State is: (1) the delivery or pickup of property; (2) the use of streets or roads; (3) the solicitation, sale, or advertising of transportation services by a motor carrier not domiciled in such State; or (4) to transport fully or partially loaded or empty vehicles through the State. Prohibits a State, under specified conditions, from imposing a net worth tax on property used in interstate commerce.
United States · United States Congress · 21 February 1991
Declares that, with regard to assistance to nations in transition from communism to democracy, it is U.S. policy to provide foreign aid directly to democratic governments at the republic level in countries that include a ruling communist majority in other republic governments or at the Federal level.
United States · United States Congress · 21 February 1991
Radio Free Asia Act of 1991 - Amends the Board for International Broadcasting Act of 1973 to grant authority to the Board for International Broadcasting to operate a Radio Free Asia broadcasting service for the peoples of Asia. Revises the composition of the Board to add two additional members to be selected by the President. Allows funds made available to Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty to be used by Radio Free Asia. Authorizes appropriations. Requires the Board to report to the Congress on the desirability of the geographic expansion of funded broadcasts, particularly to Africa, the Middle East, and North Korea.
United States · United States Congress · 21 February 1991
Amends Federal law to deny annuity benefits to a Member of Congress convicted of a State or Federal felony. Authorizes the restoration of such annuity: (1) if the individual is pardoned by the Governor in the case of a felony under State law; or (2) in the case of a reversal.
United States · United States Congress · 21 February 1991
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permanently extend the period during which qualified mortgage bonds and mortgage credit certificates may be issued.
United States · United States Congress · 21 February 1991
Constitutional Amendment - Prohibits Federal expenditures from exceeding revenues for any fiscal year and from exceeding 19 percent of the gross national product for the last calendar year ending before the beginning of such fiscal year. Provides for a suspension of such prohibitions for any fiscal year for which three-fifths of the House of the Congress provides, by rollcall vote, for a specific excess of outlays over estimated revenues.
United States · United States Congress · 20 February 1991
Housing for Older Persons Act of 1991 - Amends the Fair Housing Act with regard to the religious organization or private club exemption to: (1) amend the definition of housing for older persons; and (2) make a good faith attempt at compliance a defense against civil money damages.
United States · United States Congress · 20 February 1991
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow penalty-free withdrawals from an individual retirement plan if distributed to an Operation Desert Storm reservist within 180 days after the termination of active duty.
United States · United States Congress · 19 February 1991
Economic Growth and Jobs Creation Act of 1991 - Title I: Reducing the Cost of Labor by Reducing Social Security Taxes - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to reduce the old-age, survivors, and disability insurance (OASDI) tax on employees and employers, and on self-employment income. Amends the Social Security Act to remove the required increase in appropriations to the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund beginning after 1999. Requires the Board of Trustees of the Social Security trust funds (the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund) to include in its annual report to the Congress the expected operation and status of such trust funds during the next ten fiscal years (currently, the next five fiscal years). Amends the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 and the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to modify procedures in the House of Representatives and the Senate relating to changing OASDI taxes and benefits during the ten-year period. Amends the Social Security Act to provide that if any annual report of the Board of Trustees projects that the trust funds will not be in the close actuarial balance on average for the succeeding ten fiscal years, then Congress may not adjourn before enactment of legislation to restore such close actuarial balance. Requires the first Advisory Council on Social Security appointed after the date of enactment of this Act to: (1) evaluate the expected operation and status of the trust funds after FY 2015; and (2) conduct a review of alternative approaches to preserving a close actuarial balance of such trust funds. Title II: Reducing the Cost of Capital by Reducing Capital Gains Tax Rates, Indexing the Basis of Certain Assets, and Adjusting Depreciation Rates to Reflect Inflation - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to reduce the individual and corporate capital gains rate from 34 percent to 15 percent. Reduces such tax to 7.5 percent for low- and middle-income taxpayers. Provides for the phaseout of personal exemptions and the overall limitation on itemized deductions to take into account adjusted gross income which has been reduced by net capital gain. Requires indexing (based on the gross national product deflator) of the adjusted basis of certain assets (corporate stock and tangible property that is a capital asset of property used in a trade or business) that have been held for more than one year at the time of transfer, solely for the purpose of determining gain or loss. Provides for indexing the limitation on capital losses of noncorporate taxpayers. Provides a depreciation deduction adjustment for tangible property (other than residential rental property and nonresidential real property) placed in service after 1990. Allows phase-in deductions for such property placed in service after 1996. Title III: Increasing National Savings Through Individual Retirement Plus Accounts, Indexing for Inflation the Income Thresholds for Taxing Social Security Benefits, Inc. - Allows individuals to establish individual retirement plus accounts with tax treatment similar to that for individual retirement plans. Makes contributions to such accounts nondeductible. Provides for qualified distributions from such accounts, other than for general retirement purposes, including special purposes distributions made for the purchase of a first home and for medical or educational purposes. Prohibits special purpose distributions from being made during the first five years of the account. Provides an inflation adjustment after 1996 for income thresholds in determining the taxation of social security benefits. Excludes income from individual retirement plans when determining modified adjusted gross income. Provides an inflation adjustment after 1996 for the maximum amount allowable as a deduction for retirement savings.
United States · United States Congress · 19 February 1991
Older Americans' Freedom to Work Act of 1991 - Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to remove the limitation on the amount of outside income which beneficiaries who have attained retirement age may earn without incurring a reduction in benefits.
United States · United States Congress · 19 February 1991
Americans with Disabilities Luxury Tax Relief Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exempt from the luxury excise tax parts or accessories installed for use of passenger vehicles by disabled individuals.
United States · United States Congress · 6 February 1991
Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to approve projects within urbanized areas with populations of 50,000 or more for expanding the capacity of open-to-traffic routes on the Interstate Highway System, including construction of noise barriers, acquisition of right-of-ways for future construction of mass transit facilities, and acquisition of land for construction of parking lots and for bike paths. Sets forth a formula for apportionment of highway funds for such projects. Specifies: (1) the period of availability of funds apportioned to a State for Interstate System capacity expansion; (2) conditions that must be met in order to use lapsed funds for discretionary projects; and (3) the Federal share (80 percent) of any such expansion projects. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1993 through 1996.
United States · United States Congress · 6 February 1991
Volunteer Protection Act of 1991 - Prescribes circumstances under which volunteers working for nonprofit organizations or government entities shall be immune from personal financial liability for acts on behalf of the organization or entity. Sets forth exceptions and conditions that a State may impose on the granting of such immunity. Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to increase by one percent the fiscal year allotment which would otherwise be made to a State to carry out the Social Services Block Grant Program under title XX of the Social Security Act if such State has, within two years, certified to the Secretary that it has enacted a State law which provides such immunity. Provides for the continuation of such increase based on an annual recertification.
United States · United States Congress · 6 February 1991
Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to permit alternative methods to testing for qualifying "ability-to-benefit" students for Federal student financial aid. Restores certain options (involving receiving a general education diploma (GED) or certain counseling and remedial or developmental education, or involving a State determination process) for the qualification of ability-to-benefit students. Continues the testing requirement for such students at proprietary institutions (as mandated by the Student Default Initiative Act of 1990). Separates institutional eligibility requirements under student aid programs from compliance with ability-to-benefit provisions.
United States · United States Congress · 6 February 1991
Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to increase by $3,000 for each year from 1992 through 1996 the amount of outside income which beneficiaries who have attained retirement age may earn without incurring a reduction in benefits. Removes such income limitation thereafter. Accelerates the effective dates of increases in the delayed retirement credit rate for individuals who work beyond retirement age.
United States · United States Congress · 5 February 1991
Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to participate with the city of San Diego, California, in a study of conceptual plans for water reclamation and reuse. Limits the Federal share of the cost of such study to 50 percent. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 5 February 1991
American Consumer and Preborn Child Protection Act of 1991 - Prohibits the provision of any form of Federal financial assistance for investigation of the anti-progesterone steroid (known as RU-486) to obtain its approval under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. (Such steroid has been used outside the United States to abort pregnancies.) Parent Drug Awareness Act - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to require that drugs derived from a human fetus be labeled accordingly. Human Fetal Tissue Transportation Act - Prohibits interstate importation, exportation, or transportation of human fetal tissue, except as permitted under this Act. Requires any person who transports such tissue to notify the Secretary of Health and Human Services (Secretary) semiannually of each such transportation, with specified information. Requires the Secretary to establish regulations restricting or prohibiting interstate importation, exportation, or transportation of human fetal tissue and the operation of human fetal tissue storage facilities as necessary to protect the public health or promote the general welfare. Prohibits operation of a human fetal storage facility, except with a license issued under this Act. Requires the Secretary to issue or renew such license for any organization which meets the requirements of this Act. Authorizes the Secretary to limit, suspend, or revoke any license for material misrepresentations, failure to provide certain information, or failure to comply with regulations. Authorizes the Secretary to conduct investigations or inspections necessary to carry out the Human Fetal Tissue Transportation Act (this Act). Requires the Secretary to furnish the Attorney General information indicating noncompliance with this Act. Establishes penalties of fines or imprisonment for violations of this Act. Declares that this Act shall not affect any provision of State law, except to the extent such law is inconsistent with this Act, and then only to the extent of the inconsistency. Declares that this Act shall have no effect to the extent that imposition or enforcement is unconstitutional. Defines "human fetal tissue" to be matter yielded by an aborted human pregnancy and any biochemical product derived from such matter.
United States · United States Congress · 5 February 1991
Desert Storm Fairness Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow penalty-free distributions from annuity contracts, qualified retirement plans, or modified endowment contracts made to an Operation Desert Storm participant before the end of 180 days after the termination of such participation.
United States · United States Congress · 4 February 1991
Amends the Federal Aviation Act of 1958 to authorize foreign persons to purchase more than a specified percentage of the voting interests of a U.S. air carrier.
United States · United States Congress · 31 January 1991
Authorizes any State in which more than 25 percent of the land is federally-owned to disapprove the designation of wilderness areas in such State. Authorizes the Congress to override such disapproval by joint resolution.
United States · United States Congress · 31 January 1991
Repeals provisions of the Rural Development, Agriculture, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1991 to prohibit a specified rural development grant for the restoration of the birthplace of Lawrence Welk.
United States · United States Congress · 30 January 1991
Arctic Coastal Plain Domestic Energy Leasing Act of 1991 - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to implement a competitive oil and gas leasing program for the Coastal Plain Study Area of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. States that this Act shall be considered the primary land management authorization for all exploration and production activities on the Coastal Plain. Provides that no land management review shall be required except as specifically authorized by this Act. Mandates that all receipts from sales, rentals, bonuses, and royalties on leases under this Act be deposited into the Treasury. Directs the Secretary to promulgate regulations to ensure that oil and gas exploration and transportation activities are conducted to achieve the reasonable protection of animal and environmental resources (including subsistence uses of the Coastal Plain). States that the "Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska, Coastal Plain Resource Assessment," prepared by the Secretary, satisfies all legal requirements for such promulgation and that no further studies or assessments shall be required. Directs the Secretary to provide impact aid and other assistance to communities on the North Slope and elsewhere in Alaska in order to ensure the public services needed to accommodate oil and gas production and transportation activities on the Coastal Plain.
United States · United States Congress · 29 January 1991
Health Care Savings Account Act of 1991 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow employees and employers, including self-employed individuals, a 60 percent tax credit for contributions to a health care savings account for the benefit of the employee or self-employed individual. Limits total contributions to an account to the aggregate amount of hospital insurance tax paid with respect to the account beneficiary. Describes conditions that must be met by the account. Excludes from the gross income of the beneficiary any account contributions made by an employer. Exempts an account from taxation (except for the tax on unrelated business income of a charitable organization) unless the distributee engages in specified transactions in connection with it. Excludes from gross income any account distributions used to pay the eligible medical expenses of the beneficiary or qualifying spouse. Imposes a ten percent surtax on account distributions used for other than health care purposes or made before the distributee is aged 65 or older. Imposes penalty taxes in connection with: (1) excess contributions or prohibited transactions associated with an account; (2) distributions from an account that reduce a distributee's account level below a specified amount; and (3) failure to effect spousal rollover of an account upon the spouse's death. Imposes penalties for failure to make required reports concerning an account. Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to reduce the Medicare benefits of a health care savings account beneficiary by 60 percent of the maximum amount of Medicare-related expenditures that could be reasonably underwritten (by an insurance company) for the average Medicare beneficiary, given certain assumptions. Establishes special rules for individuals who cannot obtain insurance to cover their added deductible at the standard premium rates. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish rules in connection with recalculations of deductibles when a qualifying spouse becomes eligible for Medicare. Establishes catastrophic health care expense protection for certain individuals who qualify for Medicare and have met specified contribution requirements with respect to one or more health care savings accounts. Describes conditions under which a qualifying spouse becomes eligible for this protection.
United States · United States Congress · 29 January 1991
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to raise from $5,000,000 to $25,000,000 the threshold amount of tax-exempt bonds that a small governmental unit may issue and still remain within the exception from arbitrage rebate requirements. Makes the exception from such rebate for construction bonds effective as if included under the Tax Reform Act of 1986. Permits elections concerning such bonds to be made until 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act. States that any rebates paid shall not be refunded. Increases from $10,000,000 to $25,000,000 the amount of tax-exempt obligations excepted from the pro rata allocation of interest expense of financial institutions to tax-exempt interest for qualified small issuers. Repeals the five percent unrelated and disproportionate private use rules for private activity bonds. Provides that a bond shall not be treated as an arbitrage bond by reason of any failure to meet any requirements of temporary period investments if all earnings which would cause such bond to be an arbitrage bond are paid to the United States by the issuer by the required due dates. Reduces from 100 percent to 90 percent the amount of arbitrage to be rebated to the United States if certain State and local bonds are not to be treated as arbitrage bonds. Provides that an advance refunding bond will not be tax-exempt if it results in amounts becoming available which are invested in substantially guaranteed higher yielding investments pursuant to a contract entered during a certain period before or after issuance of the bond.
United States · United States Congress · 29 January 1991
Naval Petroleum Reserve Leasing Act - Authorizes the President to lease Naval Petroleum Reserve Numbered 1 (California) if it is not necessary for national defense purposes. Sets forth leasing and antitrust guidelines. Mandates the use of competitive leasing procedures, minimum royalty payments, and crude oil set asides for sale to small refiners by Reserve lessees. Authorizes the President to take certain steps to arrange and conduct a leasing action. Authorizes the President to acquire privately owned lands or physical improvements within a Naval Petroleum Reserve if a lease of Naval Petroleum Reserve Numbered 1 cannot be arranged. Amends the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to authorize the Secretary of Energy (the Secretary) to store within the Strategic Petroleum Reserve a Defense Petroleum Inventory of petroleum products (in addition to any other acquisition and storage for such Reserve required by law). Directs the Secretary to obligate the United States share of funds available in the Naval Petroleum Reserve Lease Proceeds Special Account (created by this Act) for the acquisition of 10,000,000 barrels of petroleum products for the Defense Petroleum Inventory. Declares that upon request of the Secretary of Defense: (1) petroleum products acquired for or dedicated to the Defense Petroleum Inventory shall be drawn down and distributed by the Secretary of Energy for the Department of Defense for use, sale, or exchange; and (2) the Secretary of Energy shall acquire and store in the Defense Petroleum Inventory those petroleum products drawn down on behalf of the Department of Defense. Requires the Department of Defense to reimbure the Department of Energy for services rendered under this Act. Establishes the Naval Petroleum Reserve Lease Proceeds Special Account in the Treasury to implement this Act. Funds such Special Account with amounts realized from the lease of any United States interest in Naval Petroleum Reserve Numbered 1. Sets forth a payment scheme under which lease proceeds shall be used to make payments to the State of California. Declares that: (1) the authority to lease under this Act extends to specified sections within Naval Petroleum Reserve Numbered 1; and (2) this Act does not affect the withdrawal of lands provided for in certain school land grants.
United States · United States Congress · 28 January 1991
Andean Trade Preference Act of 1991 - Authorizes the President to grant duty-free treatment to eligible articles from an Andean beneficiary country. Sets forth factors the President must take into account in determining whether to designate a country a beneficiary country, limited to a choice of Bolivia, Ecuador, Colombia, and Peru. Requires goods imported from a U.S. insular possession to receive duty treatment no less favorable than the treatment afforded such goods imported from a beneficiary country. Authorizes the President to withdraw or suspend the designation of a country as a beneficiary country or the application of duty-free treatment to a product if circumstances have changed to bar such designation. Sets forth criteria with respect to the eligibility for duty-free treatment of products grown or manufactured in a beneficiary country. Declares that duty-free treatment shall not apply to: (1) textile and apparel articles which are subject to textile agreements; (2) footwear not designated as eligible under the General System of Preferences; (3) tuna in airtight containers; (4) petroleum or any derivative product; (5) certain watches; (6) certain articles which are subject to reduced rates of duty; or (7) certain sugars, syrups, and molasses. Requires the President to reduce duty rates on handbags, luggage, flat goods, work gloves, and leather wearing apparel that: (1) are the product of a beneficiary country; and (2) were not designated on August 5, 1983, as eligible articles under the General System of Preferences. Provides for presidential suspension of duty-free treatment. Authorizes filing of a petition with the Secretary of Agriculture with a request for emergency relief regarding a perishable product if it has already been filed with the International Trade Commission (ITC) alleging injury from imports from a beneficiary country. Authorizes the President to withdraw duty-free treatment with respect to such products after the Secretary's recommendation to take emergency action under this Act. Makes conforming amendments to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States. Requires the ITC to report to the Congress on the economic impact of this Act on U.S. industries and consumers. Requires the Secretary of Labor to review and analyze the impact of this Act on U.S. labor.
United States · United States Congress · 24 January 1991
Terrorist Death Penalty Act of 1991 - Amends the Federal criminal code to authorize the imposition of the death penalty for any individual who kills a U.S. national while such national is outside the United States, if the killing is a first degree murder. Increases penalties for killings other than first degree murders. Sets forth procedures for the imposition of the death penalty. Requires that a defendant be sentenced to death for a death-eligible offense if, after consideration of specified mitigating and aggravating factors, the defendant is found beyond a reasonable doubt, at a special hearing, to have: (1) intentionally killed the victim; (2) intentionally participated in an act, contemplating that the life of a person would be taken or intending that lethal force would be used in connection with a person, other than one of the participants in the offense, and the victim died as a result of the act; or (3) acting with reckless disregard for human life, engaged or substantially participated in conduct which the defendant knew would create a grave risk of death to another person or persons and death resulted from such conduct. Sets forth provisions with respect to notice by the Government that it intends to seek the death penalty if the defendant is convicted, the conduct of a special hearing to determine whether a sentence of death is justified, mitigating and aggravating factors to be considered, proof of such factors, the return of findings, and procedures for appeal and review of a sentence of death. Requires the court, in a hearing held before a jury, to instruct the jury that, in considering whether a death sentence is justified, it shall not consider the race, color, religious beliefs, national origin, or sex of the defendant or any victim. Authorizes the use of State or local facilities and employees to carry out the death penalty. Prohibits requiring any employee of a State department of corrections or the Federal Bureau of Prisons, or an employee providing services to such department or bureau under contract, as a condition of such employment or contractual obligation, to be in attendance at or to participate in any execution carried out under this title if such participation is contrary to the employee's moral or religious convictions. Specifies that where a sentence of death is not imposed, the court may impose a sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of release or furlough. Prohibits carrying out a death sentence upon a person who: (1) was under age 18 at the time the crime was committed; (2) is mentally retarded; (3) as a result of mental disability, cannot understand the nature of the pending proceedings, what such person was tried for, or the reason for or nature of the punishment; or who lacks the capacity to recognize or understand facts which would make the punishment unjust or unlawful, or lacks the ability to convey such information to counsel or to the court; or (4) is a pregnant woman. Sets forth provisions with respect to the appointment of counsel for indigent defendants in Federal capital cases. Establishes standards for the competence of counsel. Specifies that the ineffectiveness or incompetence of counsel during habeas corpus proceedings in a capital case shall not be a ground for relief from the judgment or sentence in any proceeding (but does not preclude the appointment of different counsel at any stage of the proceedings). Sets forth additional provisions with respect to: (1) the appointment of counsel in State capital cases; (2) time limits for a collateral attack on a judgment imposing a sentence of death; and (3) stays of execution.
United States · United States Congress · 24 January 1991
Judicial Taxation Prohibition Act - Amends the Federal judicial code to deny to inferior Federal courts jurisdiction to issue any remedy, order, writ, or other judicial decree requiring the Federal Government or any State or local government to impose any new tax or to increase any existing tax or tax rate.
United States · United States Congress · 23 January 1991
Makes ineligible for Federal financial assistance any State or local subdivision of a State that the President determines has an official policy of providing sanctuary to members of the armed forces who are attempting to avoid performing a military service obligation.
United States · United States Congress · 23 January 1991
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to require indexing, based on the Consumer Price Index, of the adjusted basis of capital assets that have been held for more than one year, for the purpose of determining capital gain or loss at the time of transfer.
United States · United States Congress · 18 January 1991
Constitutional Amendment - Declares that the Congress and the States shall have power to prohibit the act of physical desecration of the U.S. flag and to set criminal penalties for such act.
United States · United States Congress · 18 January 1991
Constitutional Amendment - Proclaims the English language to be the official language of the United States. Prohibits the United States or any State from requiring the use of any other language. Declares that this article shall not prohibit educational instruction in a language other than English for the purpose of making students proficient in English. Authorizes the Congress and the States to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
United States · United States Congress · 18 January 1991
Imposes upon the Soviet Union the trade and assistance restrictions described in this resolution unless and until the President certifies to the Congress that the Soviet Union has: (1) ceased all interference with freedom of the press in Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia; (2) ceased the threat and use of force against the people of such states; (3) ceased its military occupation of all buildings and facilities in such states seized during the crackdown that commenced in March 1990; and (4) entered into meaningful negotiations with the democratically elected leaders of such states for the purposes of establishing the formal recognition of their independence. Specifies as such restrictions: (1) prohibiting the Export-Import Bank and the Commodity Credit Corporation from issuing or paying any insurance or credit guarantee with respect to financing exports to the Soviet Union; (2) making ineffective the U.S.-Soviet trade agreement concluded on June 1, 1990; (3) denying authority to the Secretary of the Treasury and the U.S. executive director of the International Monetary Fund and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development to support any grant of special association status; and (4) requiring the United States to oppose any waiver or modification of restrictions contained in the Charter of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development applicable to the provision of loans to the Soviet Union and to oppose loans by such bank to the Soviet Union.
United States · United States Congress · 16 January 1991
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the President should award the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Margaret Thatcher (the former British Prime Minister).
United States · United States Congress · 14 January 1991
Social Security Tax Cut Act of 1991 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code and title II (Old-Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act to revise social security tax rates to provide for reduced rates until 2015 and increased rates beginning in 2020. Increases the OASDI contribution and benefit base on a graduated basis from 1990 to 1996.
United States · United States Congress · 11 January 1991
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from the gross income of an individual up to $10,000 of distributions from an individual retirement account or qualified pension plan used within 180 days to purchase a residence that will be the first residence in which the taxpayer has a present ownership interest. Reduces the excludible amount for taxpayers with adjusted gross income above $30,000 ($50,000 for joint returns). Exempts from the penalty tax on early distributions from qualified retirement plans comparable withdrawals used to purchase the first residence in which the taxpayer's child has a present ownership interest.
United States · United States Congress · 10 January 1991
Amends the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 to impose imprisonment, a fine, or both on anyone who intentionally obstructs the operation of, or harasses any activity permitted under, a grazing permit or lease issued under such Act.
United States · United States Congress · 10 January 1991
Employee Educational Assistance Act of 1991 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to make permanent the income tax exclusion of amounts paid under employee educational assistance programs. (Under current law the exclusion expires for taxable years beginning after December 31, 1991.)
United States · United States Congress · 7 January 1991
Federal Government Foreign Travel Accountability Act of 1991 - Prohibits the obligation or expenditure for foreign travel by Federal employees and officials (including Members of Congress) of funds not specifically appropriated for such travel. Requires such employees and officials to travel by the most economical means possible and to travel aboard U.S. commercial carriers, unless an alternative means of foreign travel is more economical. Directs Federal agency heads to designate foreign travel supervisors. Requires each supervisor and each congressional committee to: (1) approve foreign travel of employees and officials in advance; (2) establish guidelines for such travel to prevent unnecessary trips; and (3) file quarterly reports with respect to such travel which shall be made available for public inspection. Requires such reports to: (1) specify the purpose and agenda of the trip; (2) identify each such employee or official and any other person who accompanies them at Government expense; and (3) describe any determination by a supervisor or congressional committee that such travel could be accomplished by a more economical alternative means when such travel is not aboard such a carrier. Requires such reports to be destroyed six years after being filed unless they are required in an ongoing investigation.
![Official portrait of Rep. Packard, Ron [R-CA-48]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/p000005_200.jpg)